Recent psycholinguistic research has demonstrated
an asymmetrical "switching cost," such that bilinguals are slower when
switching into their dominant language (e.g. Meuter & Allport, 1999). T
hese counter-intuitive results, have been used to support theories regardin
g the cognitive mechanisms governing language switching (e.g. Inhibitory Co
ntrol). The current study investigates the plasticity of switching costs as
a means to understanding how bilinguals control their competing languages.

Thir
ty Spanish-English bilinguals (10 Spanish-dominant;10 English-dominant; 10
early bilinguals) participated in a cued picture-naming task, such that bac
kground color indicated language to be used. Each target picture, was named
in both a switch condition, preceded by the opposite language, and non-swi
tch condition. Stimuli were presented in 3 language contexts, varying in th
e probability of switching languages.

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The results, discussed by condition (switc
h/non-switch) and context, highlight the importance of considering language
context in the study of bilingualism, and add to the emerging research on
the cognitive mechanisms governing language switching.